“When a foreign body interferes into a human body, the human body sends white blood cells that determine how the foreign body influences the organ systems. This is the way how our body and our brain function”. This authentic metaphor of Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, the founder and principal director of The 99 and one of the participants of the Media Summit in Abu Dhabi, describes the resistance to changes that are peculiar to humanity. I hope I managed to remember it clearly. 

Our presentation focuses its attention on the use of technology and media within social responsibility. Trainings of peacekeepers in Africa via Skype, help from more experienced doctors given to their colleagues from another continent as well as communication between immigrants and people they parted from were mentioned in the presentation. I told the audience stories about those people whom Skype really helped. 

But the quote of Dr. Al Naif on our immune system reminded me of the resistance or denial which Skype, having been introduced to a great part of humanity, meets. Sometimes the anti-Skype policy becomes a state issue.

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The executive director of Skype for Business David Gurle announces, that till 2015 the number of registered Skype users will increase up to one billion. This number is quite reachable, so Skype will really try to broaden the number of accounts up to this date. Each year Skype is being joined by 80 to 95 million users. In this way, every day 215 to 260 thousands of new accounts appear in the Skype network. Josh Silverman remarks that every day there are up to 300 thousands of new users, getting registered in Skype, so 1 billion is no limit. 

What will be with the company's income? In 2009 the income of Skype has made up 716 billion dollars, and the amount of users has reached half a billion. Of course, the accounts that are not used by users are also included here. But if the number of accounts increases to become double, the income will become twice as big, as well. So, till 2015 the income of Skype is predicted to be 1,5 billion dollars. 

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On the Pacific Telecom conference in Honolulu Jonathan Rosenberg has presented the general report. He spoke about the current state of the IP communications industry and its development perspectives.

The IP communication industry has existed for a sufficiently long time already, for about 15 years. During this time one can notice four major areas, in which the IP-telephony development has reached the significant success. The first area is industry. It is the IP-technology that is used in the main private telephone lines. Funds saving through sending voice messages and files as well as the advantages of the centralized calls control make the VoIP-technology the winner in the field of communications.

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Last week the executive director of the Skype company Josh Silverman has spoken out on the CommunicAsia Expo with a report «The future of communications». In short, the main points were:

The innovations speed is constantly increasing. Here we are talking about the majority of computer and mobile operators, that are trying to find a way to receive a higher average income basing on one customer, and about satellite connection, which influence is now especially seen. It is also important to understand what this all leads to. The society will be in favour, if innovations flourish and the consumers have a range to choose of. 

Innovations mean changes. Destructive innovations mean fundamental changes. And changes may seem scary and threating for somebody. But in the end the consumer will benefit because innovations lead to the appearing of a more valuable and comfortable product. And industry should adjust itself to the changes. 

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